Eyeglasses with retainer

ABSTRACT

Eyeglasses having a retainer which passes through openings in side portions of the eyeglasses and is adjustable longitudinally to retain the eyeglasses firmly at the eyes of a person are provided with an improved retainer having great springiness and a high coefficient of friction at its surface to cooperate with openings in the side portions of the eyeglasses which are only slightly larger than the diameter of the retainer for receiving the retainer snugly but slidably so that either end of the retainer may be pulled to tighten it on the head of the person. The great springiness and high friction characteristics of the retainer cause it to bind in the openings tending to keep it in the adjusted position. However, the retainer is releaseable for removal from the head of the person. In the preferred embodiment, the retainer is a plastic monofilament strand.

" United StateS Patent 1 Downey EYEGLASSES WITH RETAINER [76] Inventor:Dixon P. Downey, 2100 S. Ocean Lane, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33316 [22]Filed: Dec. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 208,155

Primary Examiner-Ronald L. Wibert Assistant Examiner-Paul A. SacherAtt0rneyJohn H. Oltman et al.

[451 Apr.17,1973

[ ABSTRACT Eyeglasses having a retainer which passes through openings inside portions of the eyeglasses and is adjustable longitudinally toretain the eyeglasses firmly at the eyes of a person are provided withan improved retainer having great springiness and a high coefiicient offriction at its surface to cooperate with openings in the side portionsof the eyeglasses which are only slightly larger than' the diameter ofthe retainer for receiving the retainer snugly but slidably so thateither end of the retainer may be pulled to tighten it on the head ofthe person. The great springiness and high friction characteristics ofthe retainer cause it to bind in the openings tending to keep it in theadjusted position. However, the retainer is releaseable for removal fromthe head of the person. In the preferred embodiment, the retainer is aplastic monofilament strand.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPRITIW 3.728.012

INVENTOR.

DIXON P DOWNEY.

EYEGLASSES WITH RETAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Eyeglasses having aretainer strand have been proposed previously, but adjustment of thestrand has been too difficult to make the combination of retainer andeyeglasses function satisfactorily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention combines the improvedcharacteristics of springiness and high coefficient of surface frictionin a strand with a pair of eyeglasses to provide an adjustable retainerfor the eyeglasses which, although extremely simple,functions in ahighly satisfactory manner. The strand is preferably plasticmonofilament, and the best results are obtained with a nylon plasticmaterial.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an infinitelyadjustable retainer strand combined with a pair of eyeglasses forretaining the eyeglasses on the head of a person but adjustable to allowthe eyeglasses to be suspended from the neck of the person and rest onthe chest of the person.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strand of improvedcharacteristics so that the strand may be more quickly and easilyadjusted than has been possible with known constructions.

Another object of the invention is to provide eyeglasses with a retainerwhich is inconspicuous, colorable, light weight, strong and durable.

Still another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of acombination eyeglass and retainer by simplifying the strand retainer andyet improving its operating characteristics.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pair of eyeglasses with a retainer inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the eyeglasses of FIG. 1 as they appear when worn by aperson about his head; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the strand where itpasses through a side portion on temple of the eyeglasses.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

As shown on the drawings:

The eyeglasses are conventional. They may be spectacles, goggles,sunglasses, or any other type of eyeglasses. The eyeglasses 10 have sideportions 12 and 14 which in this embodiment are temple members. It willbe understood, however, that side portions other than temples could beused.

The side portions 12 and 14 have openings 16 and 18 respectively, theopenings-in this embodiment being located near the ends of the temples12 and 14. The openings could be provided closer to the eyeglasses, orthey could be located in the side portions of the eyeglasses to the leftand right of the lenses.

A strand 20 passes through the openings 16 and 18. The strand 20 isadjustable longitudinally through the openings.

The adjustment is carried out in the following manner. The retainer 20is initially loose as in FIG. 1. The eyeglassesare placed on the head ofthe wearer in the position shown in FIG. 2. Then, one end or both endsof the strand 20 is pulled to tighten the strand 20 around the back ofthe head as shown in FIG. 2. Because of special characteristics of thestrand, it tends to stay in whatever position it is adjusted to. Thesecharacteristics will be explained further. In order to remove theeyeglasses from the head of the wearer, one of the temple pieces ispulled away from the head, and this loosens the strand 20 sufficientlyso that the glasses can be removed from the head of the wearer. Thestrand 20 can be pulled back to the position shown in FIG. 1. In thiscondition, the strand can be placed around the back of the neck of theperson, and the eyeglasses 10 will hang down at the level of the chestof the person.

The strand has special characteristics which make this easy adjustmentand operation possible. The strand is flexible, but has a high degree ofspringiness. Also,

the strand has a high coefficient of friction at its surface where itcooperates with the openings 16 and 18 so that the strand tends to stayin whatever position it'is adjusted to. As shown in FIG. 3, the strand20 passes through the opening 16 at an angle or bias, and thespringiness of the strand tends to wedge the strand in the opening 16 sothat it cannot move easily. Also, the

high coefficient of surface friction of the strand as it wedges againstthe edge at the opening tends to make the strand bind in the opening sothat it stays in the adjusted position. The openings 16 and 18 are onlyslightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the strand, and thisassures that the strand will have the proper binding action in theopenings and yet be readi-,

ly adjustable by applying force to the strand.

As previously mentioned, the best results have been obtained when thestrand is made of plastic monofilament. It is believed that nylonmaterial is critical for best results, but it is contemplated that anequivalent material could be used, such as polyethylene or other plasticmaterials of similar physical properties.

The strand 20 has enlarged knobs 22 and 24 at its I ends, and theseenlarged knobs prevent the strand from being pulled backward out of theopenings 16 and 18. Theknobs 22 and 24 are formed by melting or fusingand then solidifying of the'ends of the strand, and since the strand isnylon plastic monotilament, the enlargement can be accomplished simplyby heating the ends of the strand with a match after the strand is inposition on the eyeglasses as shown in FIG. I. In assembling theretainer with the eyeglasses, it is only necessary to drill holes in thetemples, pass the strand through the holes, and fuse the ends of thestrands to form the knobs 22 and 24.

The invention has a number of advantages. The plastic monofilament isnot absorbent, and so is not affected by perspiration, hair treatments,water and the like. There is no metal to corrode, and nothing to mark orsoil clothing. The strand is easily washed with soap and water. Thereare no protrusions which could easily catch'dirt.

The combination strand and eyeglasses is very inexpensive. The stranditself costs only a fraction of a cent, and the labor cost involved inassembling the invention is also small.

The strand is extremely strong. For example, one-sixteenth inchmonofilament with the proper characteristics of springiness andcoefficient of friction has a rated breaking strength of over 100pounds.

The strand is infinitely adjustable throughout its length, and can beadjusted to any setting by a simple motion with either hand. Aspreviously explained, the strand stays in place due to cooperationbetween the sizes of the opening and the strand, the coefficient offriction of the surface of the strand and the springiness of the strand.In a practical embodiment, the strand may have a diameter of.one-sixteenth of an inch and the openings l6'and 18 may have a diameterof five sixty-fourths of an inch.'l-lowever, other specific sizes may beused so long as the sizes of the opening and the strand are closetogether, say within one sixty-fourth of an inch for a l/ 16 inch strandand a scaled distance for other sizes. The strand has a length of from2% to 3 times the direct distance between the side portions or templesor other appropriate length.

The strand is very durable. Nylon monofilament exhibits almost nofatigue or loss of strength over time for any commonly encounteredcause. Use of the eyeglasses and retainer over a long period of timedoes not increase the hole size appreciably. Ordinarily, the strand willoutlast the frame of the eyeglasses. The strand adds almost no weight tothe eyeglasses. The strand is inconspicuous. Preferably, the strand istransparent or transluscent. It may be tinted or dyed to remaintransparent or transluscent but have a characteristic color as desired.The color may be the same as the color of the hair of the wearer to makethe strand even more inconspicuous.

When the eyeglasses are hanging from the neck of the person, they are inposition for instant use, and they cannot be easily lost or misplaced.When the eyeglasses have been placed on the head of the user and thestrand adjusted to tighten it, the eyeglasses cannot readily fall offthe face of the person even if the person perspires making the strandslippery or moves about with normal effort. The strand serves a furtherpurpose in holding the hair of the user in position which may beimportant, for example, in athletics. Also, cosmetic trinkets or beadsmight be threaded on the strand to serve as adornment for use by ladies.Such beads might take up only the width of the frame and would need tobe placed only between the side portions of the eyeglasses. The ends ofthe strand curl down out of the way due to the natural tendency of thespringy material to curl.

The invention may be applied in ordinary spectacles, goggles, sunglassesand the like. The combination could be sold as a kit the user.

to be assembled and installed by i Having thus described my invention, 1claim: 1. In a combination pair of eyeglasses and retainer wherein theeyeglasses have side portions each having an opening therein throughwhich a strand passes the strand being ad ustable longitudinally of thestrand and transversely relative to said'side portions so as to be wornsnugly around the back of the head of a person to retain the eyeglassesfirmly at the eyes of the person, the improvement wherein said strandcomprises a continuous plastic filament extending through both of saidopenings and having great springiness and a high coefficient of frictionat its surface, and at least one of said openings has only a slightlylarger diameter than the diameter of said strand and receives saidstrand snugly with a friction fit butslidably so that said strand may bepulled through said one opening to tighten the same on the head of theperson and the great springiness and high friction characteristics ofsaid strand cause it to bind in said one opening tending to keep thesame in the adjusted position, said strand being adjustable to releasethe same from the head of the wearer by pulling on the eyeglasses, andthe ends of said strand having enlarged fused portions to prevent thesame from slipping out of said openings.

2. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strand istransluscent.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said strand is colored.

4. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said strand comprisesplastic monotilament.

5. The improvement as claimed in claim 4 in which said monofilamentconsists of nylon.

6. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in which said strand has alength in the range from 21/2 to 3 times greater than the directdistance between said side portions.

7. In a combination pair of eyeglasses and retainer wherein theeyeglasses have side portions each having an opening therein throughwhich a strand passes, the strand being movable longitudinally of thestrand and transversely relative to said side portions so as to be wornsnugly around the back of the head of a person and being movable toextend said strand so that said strand can be worn at the neck of theperson with the eyeglasses hanging at the chest of the person, theimprovement wherein said strand is a continuous plastic filamentextending through both of said openings characterized by greatspringiness and a high coefficient of friction at its surface, and eachof said openings is only slightly larger than the diameter of saidstrand and receives said strand at a bias with a friction fit butslidably so that either end of said strand may be pulled to tighten thesame on the head of a person with the greater springiness and highfriction characteristics of said strand causing it to bind in saidopenings to keep the same in the adjusted position, said strandconsisting of a plastic monofilament having fused portions at the endsthereof providing enlargements for preventing said strand from slippingout of said openings.

8. The improvement as claimed in claim 9 in which said plasticmonofilament comprises nylon.

0 I IF i i

1. In a combination pair of eyeglasses and retainer wherein theeyeglasses have side portions each having an opening therein throughwhich a strand passes, the strand being adjustable longitudinally of thestrand and transversely relative to said side portions so as to be wornsnugly around the back of the head of a person to retain the eyeglassesfirmly at the eyes of the person, the improvement wherein said strandcomprises a continuous plastic filament extending through both of saidopenings and having great springiness and a high coefficient of frictionat its surface, and at least one of said openings has only a slightlylarger diameter than the diameter of said strand and receives saidstrand snugly with a friction fit but slidably so that said strand maybe pulled through said one opening to tighten the same on the head ofthe person and the great springiness and high friction characteristicsof said strand cause it to bind in said one opening tending to keep thesame in the adjusted position, said strand being adjustable to Releasethe same from the head of the wearer by pulling on the eyeglasses, andthe ends of said strand having enlarged fused portions to prevent thesame from slipping out of said openings.
 2. The improvement as claimedin claim 1 wherein said strand is transluscent.
 3. The improvement asclaimed in claim 2 wherein said strand is colored.
 4. The improvement asclaimed in claim 1 in which said strand comprises plastic monofilament.5. The improvement as claimed in claim 4 in which said monofilamentconsists of nylon.
 6. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 in whichsaid strand has a length in the range from 2 1/2 to 3 times greater thanthe direct distance between said side portions.
 7. In a combination pairof eyeglasses and retainer wherein the eyeglasses have side portionseach having an opening therein through which a strand passes, the strandbeing movable longitudinally of the strand and transversely relative tosaid side portions so as to be worn snugly around the back of the headof a person and being movable to extend said strand so that said strandcan be worn at the neck of the person with the eyeglasses hanging at thechest of the person, the improvement wherein said strand is a continuousplastic filament extending through both of said openings characterizedby great springiness and a high coefficient of friction at its surface,and each of said openings is only slightly larger than the diameter ofsaid strand and receives said strand at a bias with a friction fit butslidably so that either end of said strand may be pulled to tighten thesame on the head of a person with the great springiness and highfriction characteristics of said strand causing it to bind in saidopenings to keep the same in the adjusted position, said strandconsisting of a plastic monofilament having fused portions at the endsthereof providing enlargements for preventing said strand from slippingout of said openings.
 8. The improvement as claimed in claim 9 in whichsaid plastic monofilament comprises nylon.